Ayr Spice Restaurant in Ayrshire Scotland celebrates Bangladeshi New Year

This weekend marks the Bangladeshi New Year - Poyela Boishakh - and to celebrate the festival, Ayr Spice Restaurant in Minishant South Ayrshire, Scotland has prepared a special menu, featuring several of the world-famous signature dishes of head chef and proprietor Mafiz Ali.


Reasonably priced at £19.95, the special Bangladeshi New Year menu will be available Friday 13 April until Sunday 15 April inclusive.

In addition, the popular Ayr Spice regular menu will also be available at all times.

As always, Mafiz’s food will be a sheer delight, and the wonderful setting of Ayr Spice Restaurant in the converted Memorial Church in Minishant will provide an ideal setting for what will undoubtedly prove a memorable occasion for all diners this weekend.

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Ayr Spice Bangladeshi Restaurant celebrates Bangladeshi New Year (Poyela Boishakh)

Special menu available on Friday, Saturday, Sunday 13-15 April

Price: £19.95

Menu:

Papadoms on arrival served with a selection of chutneys

Starters:

Mixed platter (lamb tikka, chicken tikka and onion bhaji)

Vegetarian platter (aloo palak, onion bhaji, vegetable samosa)

Main courses:

Signature dishes:

Palak Macher Churchory (cubes of fish-steaks marinated for several hours in a ginger, red pepper and lemon juice marinade and gently cooked in lightly-spiced spinach in a clay oven)

Bengal fish masala (Bangladeshi fish cooked in aromatic herbs and spices)

Chicken or lamb handi bhuna (special meal usually prepared for the staff thus making it an authentic Bangladeshi dish)

Side dishes:

Shobji Bhaji (an assortment of mixed vegetables cooked in Bangladeshi style)

Lemon or pilau rice
Choice of naan bread

Dessert:

Firni (sweet rice dish essential in many Bangladeshi feasts and festivals).

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Ayr Spice Restaurant can be found in the fine old red sandstone Memorial church at the entrance to the picturesque village of Minishant, 5 miles south of Ayr on the A77. The church was erected by the thread magnate Sir Peter Coats of nearby Auchendrane, in loving memory of his wife Glorianna, who died in 1877.

Ayr Spice Restaurant
The Old Minishant Memorial Church
22 Ayr Road
Minishant
Ayrshire
KA19 8EX

Tel: 01292 441413
Web: www.ayrspice.info

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The Open Press

Pixie Lott to headline STV Appeal Racenight at Ayr Racecourse

By: Iain Ferguson

SINGING sensation Pixie Lott will headline the STV Appeal Racenight at Ayr Racecourse on Friday 22 June.


Pixie, 21, will play on an outside stage after the last race, performing her chart-topping songs which have made her a mega-star around the world.

Already in her short career she has had three number one singles – ‘Mama Do’, ‘Boys and Girls’ and ‘All About Tonight’.

Tickets for the night, which will feature six races in addition to Pixie’s performance, are on sale now and demand is expected to be huge with a crowd well in excess of 10,000 expected at the track.


Ayr Racecourse chairman Alan Macdonald (pictured above) said: “We promised a major act when the STV Appeal Racenight was first announced, and we feel that between STV and ourselves we have certainly delivered in the shape of Pixie Lott.

“For one so young, she has already established herself as one of the most successful female singers of her generation, with a string of chart successes. I am certain she will attract a vast crowd to Ayr Racecourse on the night.”


Rob Woodward (pictured above), chief executive of STV and Trustee of the STV Appeal commented: “ STV is thrilled to be working with Ayr Racecourse on what promises to be a thoroughly entertaining event. We’re delighted that Pixie Lott is performing at the STV Appeal Racenight to help raise the profile of what is an incredibly worthy cause in the STV Appeal 2012.”

The STV Appeal works closely with six major Scottish charities – Aberlour, Action for Children, Barnardo’s Scotland, Children 1st, Save The Children Scotland and One Parent Families Scotland.

It is anticipated a huge amount of money will be raised for the STV Appeal, working to help children affected by poverty in Scotland. Launched in 2011 in association with The Hunter Foundation, last year the STV Appeal raised almost £1.3 million.

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Ayr Racecourse

Ayr Racecourse and the associated Western House Hotel are Founder Members of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.

Glasgow Prestwick Airport is top for customer care

ALL Glasgow Prestwick Airport passengers should feel like VIPs!

That’s the aim of a new training course that 150 airport staff have undergone in recent weeks.

As the airport’s biggest-ever summer flight programme got under way, all staff around the airport who come into contact with passengers have been learning about the importance of giving high-quality service at all times.


[Pictured: Passenger handling supervisor Andrew Coogans with his team at Glasgow Prestwick Airport.]

The courses are being led by Ian Hunt, a professionally-qualified facilitator who runs his own company, Training Solutions.

His specialist subject is motivational skills. “This involves motivating yourself before attempting to motivate others,” he says. “Training and people development are all about energising and enabling positive change.”

Ian has been working with staff in passenger handling, check-in, security, dispatch - all the departments that deal directly with passengers.

Passenger handling supervisor Andrew Coogans is enthusiastic about the benefits of Ian’s courses.

“It’s all about exceeding people’s expectations and creating a lasting impression with them. Glasgow Prestwick Airport already has a great reputation for having friendly, approachable staff, and I'm sure the training will help strengthen that reputation further.”

Andrew says the courses, for sixteen staff at a time, have been very well received.

“The feedback has been excellent. Staff have been really positive and upbeat, saying the training has been helpful and fun.”

Glasgow Prestwick Airport chief executive Iain Cochrane commented: “This is all about providing excellent customer care and giving people a memorable experience while they’re here. Glasgow Prestwick Airport is the country’s easy-going airport and Ian’s training courses will help spread that message.”

www.glasgowprestwick.com

Sir Alex Ferguson horse to challenge for Scottish Grand National

By: Iain Ferguson

Sir Alex Ferguson is poised to come north in a bid to land another piece of top sporting silverware, with the horse he part owns, Harry The Viking, a likely runner in the Coral Scottish Grand National.

The Paul Nicholls trained seven year old was named among the entries for the £180,000 race at Ayr Racecourse on Saturday 21 April.


And with Manchester United not in action until the following day against Everton, Fergie (pictured above) may well be at Ayr to cheer on his horse.

But there will be stiff competition with some of the country’s top chasers featuring in the 62 entries.

Nicky Henderson has five possible runners, including Cheltenham Gold Cup fourth Burton Port. David Pipe has entered one of the Grand National favourites Junior and also The Package, owned by David Johnson.

Cheltenham’s JLT Speciality Chase winner Alfie Sherrin from Jonjo O’Neill’s yard and Hennessey Gold Cup winner Carruthers are entered, as is the 2010 winner of the race and last year’s runner-up Merigo (pictured below leading the race in 2010).


Notable Scottish trained entries other than Merigo include Lucinda Russell pair Red Harbour and Etxalar, Willie Amos’s Lie Forrit, Abbeybraney from George Bewley’s yard and the James Ewart-trained Captain Americo.

The chief supporting race on Coral Scottish Grand National Saturday, the Isle of Skye Blended Whisky Scottish Champion Hurdle, has attracted 34 entries including Tetlami, Petit Robin and Kid Cassidy, all trained by Nicky Henderson, Donald McCain’s Desert Cry and Red Merlin, Raya Star from Alan King’s stable, and the Paul Nicholls trained Prospect Wells and Brampour.

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Ayr Racecourse

Ayr Racecourse and the associated Western House Hotel are Founder Members of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.